| 50 ways to save
Water
This
year looks like being another big dry in many states, prompting
officials to call for water restrictions for residents and
businesses alike. Of course, water conservation makes sense
for environmental and economic reasons even if your area is
not facing a water shortage.
Below,
we've listed 50 ways to live with less water. Most can be
done for little or no cost. Keep in mind that making just
one or two changes can make a major difference. Fixing leaky
toilets, for instance, can save more than 100 gallons of water
a day.
KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY
No-
or low-cost actions
1/ Run the dishwasher and the washing machine only when they
are full.
2/ Don't prerinse dishes before loading the dishwasher. You'll
save as much as 90 litres a load, or 29,000 litres per year.
Tests show pre-rinsing doesn't improve cleaning. Or, use the
rinse-and-hold dishwasher feature for a less-than-full load
before later in the week running the full load. The rinse-and-hold
option uses about9litres of water.
3/ When your dish load is small, fill the sink or basin and
wash dishes by hand. Place soapy dishes on a rack, and spray
rinse.
4/ Wash vegetables and fruits in a bowl or basin using a vegetable
brush; don't let the water run.
5/ Use recycled water on plants. Sources: water left from
boiled eggs, tea kettles, and washed vegetables; dehumidifier
condensate.
6/
Investigate using waste water from the washing machine, bathtub,
or sink on outdoor, inedible plants. States vary in their
approach to grey water re-use. Check with your state or municipality's
department Health or environmental protection for details.
7/
Steam vegetables instead of boiling. Besides using less water,
you may retain more vitamins in the food.
8/ Chill drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running
the faucet until the water is cold.
9/ Defrost food in the refrigerator, not in a pan of water
on the counter or in the sink. Besides saving water, it's
less likely to breed bacteria.
Long-term
investments
10/
Make your next dishwasher a water-saver. The more water-efficient
models use only about 22 litres per wash--less than half that
of the least water-efficient models
11/ Make your next clothes washer a water-saver. The most
water-efficient are the front-loading types using half that
of top loaders.
BATHROOM
No-
or low-cost actions
12/
Fix toilet leaks. Plumbing leaks as a whole account for 14
percent of water consumed in the home, according to a study
sponsored by the American Water Works Association, an industry
trade group. One cause is toilet leaks, which often go unnoticed.
To determine whether your toilet is leaking, add food coloring
to the tank water If it appears in the bowl, there's a leak.
Or a simpler method is put a piece of toilet paper on the
back of the bowl, any water trickling down will soon be visible.
13/ Don't use your toilet as a wastebasket a flush what should
be rubbish down the drain..
14/ Turn off the tap when brushing yourteeth. Taps can spout
10 to 20 litres per minute.
15/ Time your showers to keep them short; this can cut 20
to 30 litres per minute with an old-style showerhead. Or turn
off the water while lathering.
16/ Displace some water in the toilet tank of an older toilet
with a plastic bottle filled with water.
17/ When taking a bath, put the plug in before turning on
the water. And fill it half as full as you usually do; you
could save 40 to 50 litres.
18/ Install new showerheads and low-flow screens on your taps.
Long-term
investments
19/
Replace older toilets with low-flow or dual flush models.
They can use less than half as much water as older models
20/ Insulate your water heater and all hot-water pipes so
you waste less while waiting for the hot water to flow.
LAWN, PATIO, DRIVEWAY
No-
or low-cost actions
22/
Fix leaky hoses and hose connections.
23/
Outfit all hoses with automatic shutoff (pistol-style) nozzles.
24/
Adjust hose attachments and sprinkler heads to emit large
drops instead of fine spray, which evaporates more easily.
25/
Use a sprinkler timer, but don't overwater.
26/
Position sprinklers so they're not watering driveways and
walkways.
27/
Hand-water with a hose where possible. Home-owners who water
with a handheld hose can use one-third less water outdoors
than those who use automatic sprinklers.
28/
Water during the coolest time of the day to reduce evaporation.
Don't water when it's windy.
29/
Adjust your lawnmower to cut grass to a height of 7.5 cm or
3 inches or more. Taller grass encourages deeper roots and
shades the soil to reduce moisture loss.
30/
If faced with watering restrictions, concentrate first on
shrubs and trees, then perennials, then annuals. Unless your
lawn is newly planted, let it grow brown; it will likely perk
up as the weather cools.
31/
Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps instead of hosing them
down.
GARDEN
No- or low-cost actions
32/
Add compost or peat moss to soil to improve its water-holding
capacity. 33/ Mulch beds to a depth of 5 to 7.7 cm or 2 to
3 inches to reduce evaporation.
34/ To ensure that potted plants and flowers use water most
efficiently, consider adding polymer/water crystals to soil
in flowerpots to make it more absorbent, or buy special patio
pots that allow water to reach roots efficiently. Such products
are available at garden retailers.
35/
Choose drought-tolerant plants. Many natives make beautiful
garden plants.
36/
Put off planting major shrubs. Even drought-tolerant varieties
need a season or more of intensive watering to properly develop
root systems.
37/
Reduce the size of your vegetable garden. Plant tomatoes and
herbs in pots and use recycled water on them.
38/
Consider buying a rain water tank or use barrels to catch
water from your gutter system to use on plants. A barrel that
holds about 200 litres or 60 gallons--and includes
a child-proof lid--can be a cheap option . Most have
a spigot for easy dispensing on your plants. Make sure you
get one that didn't contain toxic chemicals.
Long-term
investments
39/
Consider drip irrigation for flowers and shrubs. These systems,
which can be purchased at hardware and garden retailers, are
lengths of thin plastic tubing perforated at intervals and
placed at the base of plants where the water can most efficiently
penetrate to the roots.
40/ Develop a long-term landscaping plan that uses drought-tolerant
plants. Wise landscaping can save up to 50 percent of the
water you use outdoors. Change the composition of your lawn
to drought-tolerant strains.
RECREATION
No-
or low-cost actions
41/ If you're allowed to fill your pool, use a cover to reduce
evaporation.
42/
Fill pool a few inches lower than usual.
43/ Avoid water toys that need a constant stream of water.
44/ Don't install or use fountains or other water ornaments
unless they use recycled water.
Long-term
investments
45/ Consider buying a pool filter that uses less water during
filter cleaning. Some new filters waste no water at all.
OTHER
TIPS
No-
or low-cost actions
46/ Check your home's water meter for system leaks. Turn off
all taps and water-using appliances, then read your meter.
Make sure no one uses water for 30 minutes,or better still
over-night, then take a second reading. If the dial has moved,
you have a leak in a toilet or water pipe.
47/ Participate in water-conservation programs in hotels and
motels. Many motels give you ways to inform the maid that
you don't need fresh towels every day, which will save on
their laundry-water usage.
48/ If you use a nappy service for your baby, consider switching
to disposables. In regions where water is a bigger issue than
landfills, this may be the more ecologically sound choice.
49/ Patronize commercial car washes that use recycled water.
Or, wash at home, if watering restrictions permit, using a
bucket of water, not a running hose.
50/ Investigate further. Check out web sites such as the EPA
and State and local government departments for more ideas.
Take a bucket into the shower with you. Take it outside later
and water the plants.
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